The Cuban revolutionaries, led by Fidel Castro, took over the Cuban government on December 2, 1959 and put a strict communist regime into effect. In the midst of the cold war, this Soviet ally so close to American soil is a major cause of fear. The revolution was the outcome of the oppressive rule by Batista y Zaldívar, Fulgencio. Batista was a dictator, much like Castro later turned out to be, who took away the "human …showed first 75 words of 289 total…

…showed last 75 words of 289 total…formed close ties with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), relying increasingly on Soviet economic and military aid. However, when the Soviets began to allow some free enterprise, Castro disagreed and broke away from the Soviet Union. This led to a severe decline in the Cuban economy, and loss of support of as many Cuban citizens for the communist system. Fidel Castro remains in control today, not letting people in or out of Cuba.